Calvary’s Camp Compass^®

A Safe, Supportive Space for Young People Healing

Camp Compass^®, Calvary’s summer day camp, provides children with a safe, supportive space to honor and remember their loved ones who have passed away, process their feelings of loss, and be nourished by the support of our Calvary family.

Open to kids and teens ages 6 to 18, Camp Compass^® helps participants process their emotions, develop healthy coping strategies, and find healing after the loss of a family member.

Led by dedicated volunteers from every department at Calvary Hospital, the camp fosters a nurturing environment where children receive personalized support from trained counselors.

A Reflection of Our Mission

Camp Compass^® is more than just a bereavement camp—it is a powerful testament to Calvary’s lived mission of care, comfort, compassion, and community. By providing a safe space for children and teens to express their grief, connect with others, and begin the healing process, Camp Compass® embodies the very heart of Calvary’s work.

Since its founding in 1997, the camp has become an essential part of Calvary’s comprehensive bereavement services, ensuring that no grieving child is left without support. Camp Compass^® aligns seamlessly with our broader commitment to providing comfort to those experiencing loss, extending our care beyond hospital walls and into the communities we serve.

About Camp Compass^®

Calvary Hospital is deeply committed to bereavement support, and Camp Compass^® is a vital extension of that commitment. Each year, the camp welcomes a record number of participants and maintains a 2:1 camper-to-counselor ratio to ensure that every child has someone to talk to and lean on. In addition to hospital staff, experienced teachers and guidance counselors from local schools volunteer their time to provide additional support.

The impact of Calvary’s bereavement programs on grieving children and teens is immeasurable. For many, these groups and camp sessions become a crucial lifeline, offering the understanding and guidance they desperately need as they navigate their grief. In times of family tragedy, children are often overlooked—but at Calvary, we make it our mission to listen, support, and stand by them.

Camp Compass^® is offered free of charge to children and teens who participate in Calvary Hospital’s bereavement support groups, ensuring that every child in need has access to this vital resource.

Children’s Bereavement Support: Creating Healing Communities^®

For more than 35 years, Calvary Hospital has been a lifeline for grieving families. Our free bereavement support programs, including Calvary’s Camp Compass^®, provide children, tweens, and teenagers with the space and resources they need to process their emotions and find support.

We proudly offer:

• Free bereavement support groups in downtown Brooklyn for adults, children, and teens.
• Calvary’s Camp Compass^®, our annual bereavement camp, is designed to help young people heal in a supportive and understanding environment.
• Open enrollment for all—our bereavement services are available to anyone who has lost a loved one, whether that person was a Calvary patient or a member of the larger community whose passing was due to illness, accident, or violence.